Sophia University

Sophia University
上智大学
Latin: Universitas Sedis Sapientiae
(University of the Seat of Wisdom)
MottoLux Veritatis (Latin)
真理の光 (Japanese)
Shinri no Hikari (Romaji)
Motto in English
Light of Truth
TypePrivate research university
Established1913; 111 years ago (1913)
FounderSociety of Jesus
Religious affiliation
Catholic Church (Jesuit)
Academic affiliations
AALAU, IAU, IFCU
ChancellorProf. Sali Augustine, SJ, PhD[1]
PresidentYoshiaki Terumichi[2]
Academic staff
1,509 (2022/23)
Administrative staff
293
Students13,437 (2022/23)
Undergraduates12,080 (2022/23)
Postgraduates1,357 (2022/23)
Location
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
,
Japan

35°41′03″N 139°43′55″E / 35.68417°N 139.73194°E / 35.68417; 139.73194
CampusUrban, 11 acres (4.5 ha)
Alma Mater songSophia
Colors  Maroon
NicknameSophians
MascotSophia-kun (ソフィア君, maroon eagle)
Websitewww.sophia.ac.jp/eng/

Sophia University, (Japanese: 上智大学, Jōchi Daigaku; Latin: Universitas Sedis Sapientiae) is a private Jesuit research university in Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1913 by the Jesuits, it was granted university status in 1928, becoming the first Catholic university in Japan.[3] Sophia University has 12,080 undergraduate students and 1,357 postgraduate students. The university has 9 undergraduate faculties and 10 graduate schools, with over 13,900 students in total.[4][5][6]

Sophia University is a highly globalised university with international students from 77 countries and exchange agreements with 400 universities in 81 countries.[7] The university attracts many students from across Japan and abroad. As of 2022, foreign students constituted approximately 9% of the student body.[8]

Sophia's alumni are commonly referred to as "Sophians", among whom include the 79th Prime Minister of Japan, Morihiro Hosokawa, several politicians represented in the Japanese National Diet, several foreign statesmen including, Carlos Holmes Trujillo, Mukhriz Mahathir, Li Linsi, and a number of actors and musicians in the Japanese film and music industries.

  1. ^ "Announcement of Change of Chancellor of Sophia School Corporation".
  2. ^ "Professor Yoshiaki Terumichi appointed as Next President of Sophia University".
  3. ^ "上智大学の沿革｜上智大学". www.sophia.ac.jp (in Japanese). 1549. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  4. ^ "Sophia University Graduate Students 「上智大学大学院学生数」" (PDF). Sophia University. Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Sophia University Undergraduate Students「上智大学学部学生数」" (PDF). Sophia University. Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  6. ^ "History of Sophia University: Arrival of St. Francis Xavier-1967". Sophia University. Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  7. ^ "Global Engagement | Sophia University". www.sophia.ac.jp. Retrieved 2023-06-12.
  8. ^ "数字で見る上智大学｜上智大学". www.sophia.ac.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-12.